Bean town got a real treat that New Years----The trading duel between Jerry and Phil on some of these is also some of their best.

This is not a bad show by any means--an interesting version of Alligator, and there's a really unique jam in the middle of Mason's Children. This is though, another 60's SNBD where Weir's guitar just doesn't make it through the mix, you can't hear him at all. Still, an enjoyable ride.

:) living
the
good life.
1969>1970

Eh, not great. Cool set list. Nice farewell to a decade, with tunes from their '66 repertoire included.

I remember it well. It was my first Dead experience. I was tripping my way from 1969 to 1970. And Chuck, I believe the improv group was the Proposition which featured Jane Curtin and Josh Mostel who later went on to work the fists season s of SNL. And Yes DeadJR It's the real deal. Listen to the intro and you'll hear the intro by Charlie saying the dates. I rarely missed a show at the Tea Party in those days.

Love this show, listened to it for the first time today (check out the Charlie Miller upgrade here at LMA). Solid and fantastic all the way through - especially like the Mason's & Big Boy Pete, not to mention the jamming Eleven.

Thanks to Mr Chuck below for the "I was There" review - must have been a blast.

To you Bluegrass fans check skwimite's suggestion and search out the Del Mcoury recording here on LMA - I searched on Slewfoot and found it amongst the GD shows.

Just wanted to add that the sound quality of this 3rd Gen SBD gets way better than the China Cat>Rider. Great song selection, well played.

This show actually gave me a warm and fuzzy feelin. You don't get those very often! The boys were tight rolling into the new year. Thanks Archive! Good sound quality, Jerry sounds great.

What a great find! Superb renditions of so many songs. One of the great things about not being an audiophile is you don't hear the flaws the folks below complain about. Very, very fun. And to think this place was/is across the street from Fenway Park.

I wanna crank this shit up to 11...no, wait, 12...no, wait,...

Special message for mr chuck... I used to hang at the Boston Tea Party because my friend Debbie Chase worked there. Sadly I didn't see the show in question, but it's cool to read something from an insider. I loved the light shows by The Road, love & miss the Master Blaster (where did he go? We wonder...). Taking mescaline and listening to Quicksilver was a total joy. I have my own story about Don Law, but it doesn't come close to yours! He got dosed !!! Amazing. He was always such a straight guy. Thanks so much for your review. If'n you want to write, my email is tnicboston@juno.com. I'd love to compare notes with you about the Tea Party. It was one of the coolest places on the planet in it's day. With a tip of the Owlsley stained cap...BostonRocker51 (aka Mark D)

Howdy - Yes, I was there when this was played that very night. Good dear friend Marshall Goldberg was the sound engineer/designer for the Ark and the Tea Pary (when it was absorbed later on at the Landsdowne Street venue). The Ark was designed and built by Intermedia Systems Corporation, which, in 1969, did the logistics for Woodstock. I worked for them during this phase. Hi to Gerd Stern and Stuart Vidockler and George Litvin! Google those names for a ride through the acid-drenched '60s.
Livingston Taylor was on this bill, as was an improve group, Cambridge Light and Power, which oddly enough, was the previous tenant in what became Intermedia's new home base in 1969 - 711 Mass. Ave. Intermedia bought the only recording studio in Boston at that time - Petrucci and Atwell - and they are the name on some of the Timothy Leary recordings.
This NYE concert's posteris documented in The Art of Rock, a coffee table book of poster art. I've nearly gotten into fisticuffs with deadheads that cannot fathom that the Dead could have possibly played anywheres but the Bay area on that auspicious day. And now I have this to further support that reality and truth. Woo Hooo!
Great show. Went 'til sun-up. Everyone was dosed. EVERYONE. This includes Don Law, the manager of the Ark, who tried in vane to NOT get conditioned (someone got to his corked/sealed bottle of Mateus). The memory of him being escorted off of the stage as he asked the balloon-screeching audience "Have you all lost your minds?" Good entertainment there!
Some time later in SF, I became close with Zohn Artman, who became all that ran Bill Graham - after being taken in when he was a waiter to BG's entourage at Elton John's first nights at the Troubador in LA. stories....

the only nye show outside the bay area and the best imo opinion blend of that 68 psycadelic sound and the more serious productive sound of 70 and the mesh is 69 this nye show is smokin my personal fav awbygn jam soon to disappear and become a part of goin down the road awesome alligator and jam out what i would give to have been there love 69 the best year of them all...
stars 4.5
sound 4

We're all very fortunate that this wasn't chosen for the Dick's Picks, but it's strange it wasn't.
Good show great show you can listen and forget where when how you are and that's being part of the grateful dead.
Non-existant.But, always in time.
This show has always contained what I believe is the best Uncle John's Band.
And the stuff within Alligator for those who are just getting into this band give you in idea of not just the band but how nice a guy Mr.Garcia really was.

The Archive lists 3 shows on this date...
1 in a studio in Ca
2 a home recording
3 this gem
Is this the real deal new years end of the decade show confirmed for sure no doubt about it cross my heart and hope to pee O its gotta be true attested by an individual who was there personaly physicaly in body and person?
If so why list this date on the other recordings instead of 'various' or 'unknown'
Or were these musicians paranormaly superheroicly flash like fast enough to be everywhere at once on this date...
Hmmmmm...
It could happen...
O yeah the show is great Dead
I can get into different periods whole heartedly at different times and enjoy it more each time
Far out and up the groove...

What a f-ing great new years show! What a setlist! This is high octane playing and great 1969 sound quality. Jerry's tone is so bad ass. It's amazing to think I was not even born...not even conceived when this show took place. I have a feeling this show will slowly become one of my favorites ever!

The Jam out of Alligator is preety sweet, Bob chording nicely underneath and above everyone else. Jerry's tone is magnificent.

Another incredible show from 69. Great way to end the 60's.

Excellent show.

Sound Quality: A

Good to here early versions of High Time, Black Peter, Uncle Johns. These are fun to listen to and well played. Gives an early picture of what is to come. Love hearing Slewfoot! very enoyable tune. Good easy intro to 1969 shows, which are some of my favoite shows. If you like this show try the April shows at the Ark in Boston. Great shows!

Playing is good, sound good. Highly recomend this show.

OH MY GOD I , know this is not this most perfect high time ever but, MY GOD the emotion coming from JERRY IS amazing.I LOVE THIS VERSION,WOW!!!!!

I think the sound is really good. I do not hear much hiss at all. There is a good mix and good vocals. Of all the 69 shows I have heard, the sound quality on this one is one of the better ones.

This is a fun show to listen to, and personally I don't think the sound is all that bad, although a pristine board would certainly be welcome. What a shame Mason's Children didn't make it on to Workingman's Dead. This is a great version here. Big Boy Pete is good too. Since this was a NYE, I assume they kept the show "light" on purpose, with alot of straight-up songs. Not a bad thing. I always liked Slewfoot. Check out a real bluegrass version(excellent quality) on this very archive. Del McCourey Band 8-8-69. 4 stars for the show and the sound.

I rate this show a 4 because of the great playing and energy in this show, but the sound is a 3 at best. This show SUFFERS from the multiple cassette generations in it, there's a lot of audible hiss and the sound is very distant. I can only hope a better sounding version of this show comes around or this show becomes a Dick's Picks candidate. Such a smoking early NYE Dead show, I'd love to hear it in it's crispy Reel Master glory..